Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Mr. Holmes Was a Triumph

Sherlock Holmes is
such an iconic character that the role is a difficult challenge to take on. Add variables like retirement, extreme old
age, and the onset of dementia, and the detective’s dry wit and immeasurable
powers of observation become even harder to get across. However, Sir Ian McKellen manages to embody
the character; simultaneously capturing his youthful abilities while keeping
things in perspective. Mr. Holmes provides a glimpse into the
future of a character that the world has come to recognize as the definitive
sleuth.

It’s 1947 and
Sherlock Holmes, now in his mind 90’s, is living a quiet life having retired
from Baker Street after a final devastating case. His old partner Watson, who has since passed
away, wrote of his adventures with Sherlock and despite his personal experience
embellished the tales to a great extent.
As a result, Holmes begins to try desperately to fend off his increasing
memory loss long enough to recall the true story of his last case so he can
remember why it was he left his beloved profession behind. Flashbacks to 1912 provide glimpses into the
reality of that case in which Holmes was hired by a husband to find out why his
wife had changed so much since her second miscarriage. These brief snapshots put the viewer in the
old man’s shoes as he frustratingly attempts to piece together the story. In the present, Holmes befriends his housekeeper’s
son Roger and the two form an unlikely bond as Roger’s curiosity intrigues
Sherlock. Roger’s inquisitive nature helps
him start to remember the forgotten case as things slowly become clearer.

The film was
brilliantly emotional and just complex enough to provide an air of mystery. This is a Sherlock Holmes story isn’t it! Holmes’ relationship with Roger provides a
lovely end to the detectives life and presents a perspective he’d often not
considered: that love and the personal relationship we form are the most
important element of a well lived life and are quite literally ALL that matter
as we near the end. As a result,
Sherlock is humbled in his twilight hours and is able to reflect on not only
his mysterious final case, but his life in its entirety. After struggling for years with regret and
guilt, the man is finally able to come to terms with his life and embrace however
much of it is left with excitement and hope.

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Larissa is the Teen Librarian at the DFL. She has a BA in English Lit from Smith College and an MS in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. She owns a production company with her boyfriend, and together they create film and print works. Larissa is a little obsessed with feminism, the moon, and pizza.